Elected representatives turn role models
Three persons part of Karshika Karmasena formed by agriculture department
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-10-19 06:16 GMT
KOLLAM: Any mention of politicians and elected representatives is usually never complete without reference to their indifference to people’s problem and corruption. But three ward members of the Kulasekharapuram Grama Panchayat , including a woman , have become the talk of the town for their active involvement in the people's lives. The three , Bindu Ajith, N. Rajan,and Saiju Kumar, are often seen operating a tractor, climbing a coconut tree, or ploughing the fields in the grama panchayat. They are part of the team, Karshika Karmasena put together by the agriculture department of Kulasekharapuram to help villagers with their farming.
All three ward members underwent a 20-day training programme on operating and maintaining tractors, climbing coconut trees , and spraying crops to free them of pests and were also educated about paddy cultivation at the Kureepuzha Executive Engineer’s Office, on the instructions of the district panchayat. The department procured tractors and coconut tree climbing tools at a cost of Rs 10 lakhs for the project.
Ms Ajith, who represents ward 22, and is an M.Com graduate and computer expert, has caught the attention of the farmers by operating a tractor which is usually the domain of male workers and assisting them in cultivating bananas and paddy. Mr. Rajan, who is a member of ward 7 has a diploma in computer application and is an expert in cultivating upland paddy. Not long ago he achieved his dream of promoting upland paddy in each house of the ward.
An LLB student and a literature graduate, Mr Kumar, operates the tractor for his people on demand. Agriculture Officer of Kulasekharapuram, V.R. Binesh, who was instrumental in roping in the ward members says they have become e a model to the people as the biggest concern in agriculture today is scarcity of labour.
A farmer extension organisation, Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA), has also been formed by the department to help those interested in agriculture and supply them seeds and manure, Mr. Binesh reveals, explaining that the agricultural products are sold through an air conditioned retail outlet opened by Oachira Innovative Farmers Association (OIFA).